"Astrocyte: Physiology and Pathology" ed. by Maria Teresa Gentile and Luca Colucci D’Amato

This book gives an overview of the crucial role of astrocytes in the physiology of the CNS and in the pathogenesis of several CNS disorders suggesting that the shift from a neurocentric view to one that incorporates astrocytes in disease models for drug discovery is a critical step in renewing drug development strategies to treat neurodegenerative diseases.

A team of authors from prestigious academic schools contributed to draw up a project that would give a detailed account of astrocyte's morphology and physiology, examining thoroughly all the astrocyte's types; giving an accurate description of their morphology, location, function in the brain; and illustrating their physiology and pathology in terms of dealing with neurons through "gliotransmitters," ionic channels, and membrane receptors expression.

Contents
1 Introductory Chapter: The Importance of Astrocytes in the Research of CNS Diseases
2 Signaling Pathways Regulating the Pathophysiological Responses of Astrocytes: A Focus on the IKK/NF-κB System
3 Evidence that Astroglia Influence Dendrite Morphogenesis and Synaptogenesis Independently in the Vertebrate Central Nervous System
4 NMDA Receptors in Astroglia: Chronology, Controversies, and Contradictions from a Complex Molecule
5 Astrocytes in Pathogenesis of ALS Disease and Potential Translation into Clinic
6 Astrocytes’ Role in Alzheimer’s Disease Neurodegeneration
7 Mitochondrial Function in Alzheimer’s Disease: Focus on Astrocytes
8 The Role of Astrocytes in Tumor Growth and Progression
9 Astrocytes in Aceruloplasminemia
10 Astrocyte Pathophysiology in Liver Disease